Honduran Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed Alien

According to court documents, ZELAYA-ZELAYA was previously removed from the United States on May 13, 2022, and December 4, 2019, and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to re-enter.  United States District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for August 26, 2025 at 2 p.m.

ZELAYA-ZELAYA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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